After calling it off twice, NASA is looking at September 23 and 27 as possible dates for the launch of the Artemis I moon mission, according to an official quoted by the news agency AFP.
The first launch attempt of Artemis I, on August 29, was scrubbed due to technical issues with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. NASA called off the second launch attempt of Artemis I on September 3 due to an issue related to a leak in the hardware transferring fuel into the SLS rocket.
Artemis I was slated to launch no earlier than 11:47 pm IST on September 3. A few hours before the launch, ground control teams observed that a leak developed in the supply side of the eight-inch quick disconnect while attempting to transfer fuel to the SLS rocket. The quick disconnect connects the ground system to the rocket. It is also the region where liquid hydrogen is fed into the rocket. NASA teams attempted to fix the fuel leak, but were unsuccessful.
At approximately 11:17 am EDT (8:47 pm IST) on September 3, the launch director waived off the second launch attempt of Artemis I. While loading the propellant into the core stage of the SLS rocket, teams encountered a liquid hydrogen leak.
The teams made several troubleshooting efforts to address the area of the leak by reseating a seal in the quick disconnect, but to no avail.
The first launch attempt of Artemis I on August 29 was scrubbed due to an issue with one of the RS-25 engines of the SLS rocket.
What Is Artemis I All About?
The Artemis project, the first human moon mission since 1972, aims to carry the first woman, and the first person of colour to the Moon, by 2024.
The first spaceflight that landed humans on the lunar surface was Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969, and the last one was Apollo 17 on December 11, 1972.
The objective behind the Artemis Mission is that it will enable NASA to demonstrate new technologies on the Moon, which will pave the way for future exploration of Mars.
The Artemis Mission has three stages, Artemis I, II, and III.
NASA's massive SLS rocket and Orion Space Capsule will carry astronauts into lunar orbit. From there, SpaceX's Human Lander System (HLS) will ferry the astronauts to the Moon's icy south pole.
Artemis I will be an uncrewed test flight. Orion will be carried atop the super-heavy lift rocket, SLS, without any human in the capsule. If Artemis I is successful, it will be certified that the SLS and Orion can be used for the other two Artemis missions, which will be crewed flights.
Artemis I will demonstrate the performance of both Orion and SLS and test NASA's capabilities to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. The first uncrewed test flight of the Artemis Program will pave the way for future missions to the lunar vicinity, including landing the first woman and the first person of colour on the surface of the Moon.